Luxury Family Vacations in Hawaii
The Best Hotels and Resorts for Kids from the Big Island to Kauai
Top travel times are unavoidable for a family with school-age children. Luxury resorts in Maui and other islands in Hawaii provide fun for kids, and a chance to relax.
Every family with young children knows that when school's out, the luxury of vacations can begin. Christmas, Spring Break, and summer are by default the best times of year for family vacations: A family is usually stuck with taking vacations around the same time as everyone else. It can get pretty crowded.
Luxury resorts in top upscale travel destinations can help make hard-earned vacations more comfortable. Hawaii is far enough to get "away from it all," yet culturally familiar enough for Americans to feel comfortable and at ease during their luxury family vacations. The best trips with young kids should offer both a lot of family activities, and opportunities for parents to grab as much alone time as needed. After all, everyone needs their downtime!
Best luxury family vacation resorts in Hawaii:
- The Fairmont Kea Lani - Maui is the most child-friendly island in Hawaii, with a plethora of family activities on and off luxury resorts. The Fairmont Kea Lani has every luxury amenity that leisure travel fans have come to expect, and the day camp keeps children happy and busy. For family time, the huge pool has a 140-foot water slide - and for parents' time, there is an adults-only pool.
- The Grand Wailea Resort, Hotel & Spa - Along the same beach in Maui as is the Fairmont (and the less child-friendly Four Seasons), the Grand Wailea is a luxury resort seemingly made for children. The theme is water slides, and there are plenty of them. During peak travel season, the Grand Wailea noise level can be pretty...unrelaxing. But the massive, ultra luxury day spa, the Spa Grande, can help frazzled parents regain their sense of peace
- The Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa - Kauai isn't as family-friendly, overall, as is Maui. However, the Grand Hyatt Kauai more than makes up for the rest of the islands rugged, non-child-friendly natural beauty and splendor. This child friendly luxury family resort has "Five Days of Family Fun" - and, of course, Camp Hyatt Kauai, so children can have fun without mom and dad. Their parents can check out the golf course and luxury day spa. The Grand Hyatt is Kauai's best luxury resort that is also family oriented and child friendly.
- The Kahala Hotel & Resort - Adjacent to the Diamond Head area of Oahu, the Kahala Hotel & Resort is far enough away from Waikiki to relax, but close enough (maybe a 10 minute drive) for a family to experience the epitome of touristy Hawaii. And then, to remember that a luxury family vacation means not having to put up with all that hubbub. This is Oahu's best luxury class hotel, with family activities as well as great nearby golf, a luxury day spa and (kids and grown-ups love this) Dolphin Quest.
- JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa - It's Hawaii, so you know it's not your mother's Marriott. The Ihilani is a luxury resort in Oahu, far removed from the almost urban feel of "hotel central" Waikiki. In a word, it's gorgeous. A private lagoon makes ocean swimming easy and safe for children. Kids can also feed sharks (it's safe) and rays on the resort property. As of this writing, a Ritz Carlton is being built at a nearby lagoon, but this is far enough away so as to not detract from the luxury of a stay at the Ihilani.
- Four Seasons Hualalai - The Four Seasons on the Big Island is more family oriented than is its Maui cousin, but it's still a classy luxury 5-star resort. There is an adults-only section, Palm Grove, so that parents and children can feel comfortable and welcomed in the rest of the resort. The day camp here is the great for children; kids have the best time here. The Four Seasons nanny referral service is well known for its screening and quality, so parents of children too young for the camp can snag some precious alone time too.
- The Fairmont Orchid - The Orchid, on the Big Island, is slightly less family friendly than the Fairmont Kea Lani on Maui. Nonetheless, this luxury resort is casual enough for children to be themselves. The Kidswim classes are fun for kids over 6, and the babysitting service is reliable. The Keiki Club, the children's day camp, is basically the same as is the Fairmont Kea Lani's. My kids wanted to go to the camp every day. The huge oceanfront pool, the best resort fitness center, spa and golf add to the luxury of a family vacation at the Fairmont Orchid.
- Four Seasons Resort Lanai - There are only two resorts worth mentioning for luxury family travel in Lanai, and both are Four Seasons. The one at Manele Bay is by the ocean, while the one in Koele is inland. There is not much else for children to do on Lanai, so an all-inclusive luxury resort is really the only way to go. Both Four Seasons offer the same luxury amenities and 5-star treatment as others in the chain, along with its top nanny referral service and day camps.
Summer, Christmas, and Spring Break are the best time to take a family vacation, since schools are closed. Next time, travel in luxury; take a family vacation at one of these top child-friendly luxury resorts in Hawaii.
Related, on Suite 101:
Top Scuba and Snorkeling in Hawaii
Best Hotels and Resorts in Maui
Copyright Jennifer Miner and Suite 101. All rights reserved.
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